She turned her head away to hide the tears from prying eyes. She turned to go when Warren said, “Please excuse my last words, cousin, I did not wish to scold you. See! yonder comes Mr. Burton. He is coming this way.” He was calm but pale. As he drew near to them he said, “Mr. Hilton, get my hat please; it is time for me to be going.” As Warren left to do his bidding Paul said, “Miss Spaulding, if I have said aught to offend you, pardon me. As God is my witness, what I have told you is the truth. I will do as you have bidden me to do, and I ask in return to remember me some times when alone.” He gently pressed the little hand he was holding. “Goodbye, and may God bless you forever,” said Paul solemnly. Soon Warren came with the hat, and Paul taking it bid them all good night and went homeward in a sad frame of mind. One hope she had given him, viz: “If you prove faithful to me in the future I am yours.” These words cheered him, and he fully resolved to be true to her until death. “What can be her object. Can it be she thinks she is not good enough for me financially?” thus murmured Paul until he reached home. He found his mother sitting up. She had been having a serious spell of heart disease and dared not lie down. As he entered the room she was sitting in she said, “My son, why did you come so soon? I did not expect you for some time yet.” “It is nearly twelve, mother, and I am sorry I stayed so long. You have been sick, and are now, only wishing to keep me in ignorance of how bad you really are. You look very ill mother. Why do you sit up so long?” asked her son, bending over her and pressing a kiss on her fair brow. “My son,” answered his mother, “I have the heart disease, and I fear you will soon have no mother. I see it is growing worse with me with every attack, as I cannot lie down after one now.” “Oh! mother, do not speak so sadly. Shall I go for a doctor tonight?” “It would do me no good. I have tried the best-skilled physicians there are on the continent and they unite in saying I must be kept quiet or I will some day be no more. I have prayed that I might live to see you grown to manhood, and that prayer is answered and now I am willing to go when God sees fit to call me.” His mother was speaking in a sorrowful tone. Paul sat like a statue, pale as death. “Oh! mother, it cannot be,” he spoke at last. “I can not part with you; you who are all the companion I have on earth,” answered Paul in frightened tones. “My son you will not miss me much when you catch that ‘little human fish’ you spoke of the other day. Oh! if you should marry her I pray she may prove a true, honest wife to you. Then you will lead a happy life.” “Oh, mother, may your last few words be true! Time works wonders in this world sometimes. I hope you may live long with me, then you will see what a dutiful son you have,” answered Paul, the tears falling thick and fast.